Thursday, June 30, 2011

June-cap

IMG_0896

IMG_0894

IMG_0933

IMG_0967

IMG_0997-1

IMG_1008-1

IMG_1019-1

IMG_1124

 

IMG_1165

IMG_1167

IMG_1174

June, as seen through my phone picture archives.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Thankful Tuesday: Caden Edition

IMG_1165

My friend Donna delivered her sweet baby boy early this morning.  Welcome to the world, Caden.  I’m thankful you are here, I am thankful you are healthy and I am thankful your momma can drink wine with me again.

TT 06 28 11 1

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Inductee

This weekend we went home to celebrate with my dad-in-law, who was getting inducted into the Lincoln County Sports Hall of Fame.  Sports has always been a big part of his life, from his years playing at USC (“the real Carolina”) to coaching the high school team at Lincolnton to being a Saturday-morning quarterback for Matt’s football career (kidding!), so it was touching to see that so many other people recognized the dedication and hard work he’s always put forth. 

Dad Cline Congrats blurb 1

IMG_9621

Giving his speech…

IMG_9614

The whole fam (Derek & Micah, Mom & Dad, Matt & Meg)

IMG_1141

Dad with his twin brother Don and little sister Paige

Dad Cline Congrats 1

Congrats! What an exciting night and a great honor!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Squash Sammies, Again

It’s summer!  Which means gardens overflowing with squash and basil which means…

IMG_1101

Squash Sandwiches!

IMG_1103

Here’s the recipe (2010) as well as the video tutorial (2009) at the bottom of the page.   Clearly, these are on repeat in our household.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Comforting

My Dad’s love language is information.

IMG_1082-1

Every trip home I find a stack of newspapers in my room, folded so the relevant articles are apparent.

It makes me laugh, it makes me roll my eyes a little bit but it’s comforting. 

Monday, June 20, 2011

30,000 Feet

Whenever Matt and I fly home, I always have the window seat –by virtue of being about 10 inches shorter than him, it’s been determined he could use the extra legroom.  I never mind: I love looking out airplane windows. I love seeing the Earth from above, like my own little version of a Google Map Satellite view.  I love seeing the land below change shapes and colors, and my favorite thing to do as I fly into Rochester is to pick out the Erie Canal and the Interstate Highway and try to find my house.  I never have, although I’ve found my high school, my elementary school and our downtown village plenty of times.

This time flying back from Rochester to Greensboro, we had a connection in La Guardia.  The plane we were on was the definition of puddle jumper, and we flew lower than I ever have in my life.  I’m not kidding when I say I had my face pressed to the window (okay I am kidding – it’s kind of gross, airplane windows, right?)… but I couldn’t take my eyes off the ground.  It was amazing to watch the topography of my home state change: from the suburban sprawl of Rochester, to the easily-picked out Finger Lakes surrounded by farmlands, to the rough bumps of the Catskills and the finally to the condensed urban landscape surrounding New York City. 

It was almost a surreal experience, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures out my window as if I could preserve the experience forever.  I know it’s cliché, but when I’m looking at the world from above, I can’t help but realize just how big and small the world is, all at the same time.  Momentarily, I remember that we’re all in this together.

IMG_1084

IMG_1086

IMG_1091

Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Morning After

Pictures on my phone, remembering the night before.  We had so much fun. 

IMG_1146

IMG_1145

IMG_1147

Saturday, June 18, 2011

They Did.

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Morris.  A beautiful bride, a handsome groom, happy family, cherished friends, clinking glasses….

And a rockin’ DJ.  Your life is off to a happily ever after start.

IMG_1043

IMG_9483

IMG_9526

IMG_9519

IMG_9538

IMG_9572

IMG_9542

IMG_9566

{Katie + Dylan – 06.18.11}

Friday, June 17, 2011

Practice Makes Perfect

You know you’re in trouble when you get weepy at the wedding rehearsal, right?

I just can’t believe my baby sis is getting married.  In my mind, she’s still the 11 year old pretending to be Dominique Moceanu in our backyard, doing back handsprings in the grass and landing with a perfect stick and a smile full of braces. 

Now, she’s standing up in front of the Judge, one of my Dad’s best friends from college, holding the hands of her fiancé, looking in his eyes and practicing their vows.  (Stop saying them out loud!  I’m already crying!)

I am so happy to be witness to this marriage.  You know, when you just know that two people found each other on purpose? 

IMG_9431

The groom & bride to be!

IMG_9380

The groomsmen

IMG_9381

And the bridesmaids…

IMG_9390

And a gratuitous Oak Hill shot just to keep for your viewing pleasure.

After practicing their yes-we-do’s, the bridal party and out of town guests filed into our family’s backyard for a casual barbecue (Dinosaur BBQ!) dinner and to officially kick off the weekend of celebrating these two.

IMG_9336

IMG_9369

IMG_9367

The décor was done by Katie’s wedding planner/our good family friend, Meredith.  Meredith’s the daughter of my Dad’s childhood best friend, and we have literally know her & her sister, Lauren, since birth.  The centerpieces were put together by Dylan’s sister, Lindsay.

IMG_9376

The beverages traveled all the way from Wisconsin!

IMG_9445

The party in full swing…

IMG_9421

A mix of Katie’s high school friends & both their college friends…

IMG_9420

With two very handsome men – my husband & my brother!

(My brother is single and I can almost guarantee does not read my blog…. so email me if you would like to be set up with a very smart, very funny, musical, handsome guy who is extremely terrible at returning emails and texts.)

(Ya like that Mom?  Think it’ll work?)

IMG_9438

My dad giving his toast roast.

IMG_9442

Laughing on the outside, probably crying on the inside. 

IMG_9374

Ready to bring these 2 families together!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Happy Birthday, Dad!

It just so happened that the day we arrived in Pittsford for Katie’s wedding was my Dad’s 60th birthday!  Having a birthday so close to Father’s Day has sometimes meant my Dad gets a little short changed on the birthday celebrations – I mean, who wouldn’t be tempted to take the card you’ve given him on his birthday, use a little white out and voila… Father’s Day card?!

Kidding.  Totally not allowed in the Claffey household.  We respect all major holidays. 

But really, it was so nice to get to be home on my Dad’s birthday, and a monumental one at that, to make him feel extra special.  We had debated various versions of the perfect Dad Claffey Birthday Celebration… ideas were tossed around about restaurants to go to or events to do, people to invite, until finally it was decided that my Dad’s ideal birthday celebration would be: steaks & clams on the grill, cold beers in the fridge and the US Open on TV.  As a bonus, he would be allowed to go to bed as early as he would like.

We were right on the money: this at-home, with just his family seemed to suit him just right.

Happy Birthday, Dad.  You’ve made 60 look good.

IMG_9277IMG_9278

IMG_9273

IMG_9283

IMG_9317IMG_9329